Udonis Haslem is set to play his final regular season game in the NBA on Sunday when the Miami Heat face off against the Orlando Magic.
Haslem has spent all 20 seasons of his NBA career with the Heat, and the team shared a heart-warming video to mark the occasion, with many franchise legends congratulating him, including LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
“To be with you, to fight with you, to go on a foxhole with you every single night was a treat to me,” James said, while also calling Haslem the heartbeat of Miami. “Heat nation will never ever forget what you brought to this franchise.”
“Nothing was given to you, everything was earned my brother,” Wade said. “Thank you for letting us enjoy this ride. Thank you for giving us 20 years of your heart. Here’s to an unbelievable career. I can’t wait to enjoy this next journey of life with you, man.”
You're gonna need tissues handy for this one 🥹
Ahead of @ThisIsUD's final game his teammates from all eras of his 20 year career have nothing but love for OG pic.twitter.com/YjrE7wvkc5
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) April 8, 2023
Also featured in this video were the likes of Shaquille O’Neal, Gary Payton, Alonzo Mourning, and Glen Rice. Haslem’s story is an incredible one, especially when you consider that he went undrafted in 2002. Not many players have managed to stay in the NBA for 20 seasons, let alone someone who wasn’t even drafted. He would go on to win three NBA championships with the Heat and was a starter for much of those title runs.
He has averaged 7.5 PPG and 6.6 RPG for his career and will have his jersey retired by the franchise for his contributions on the court and off it as well. Haslem has been a strong presence in that locker room over the years and made a big impression on everyone who played for the team in these last two decades.
The Miami Heat Are Dedicating A Seating Section To Udonis Haslem
While many on the outside have questioned just how important Haslem has been to the team over the last 5-6 years, those within have always vouched for the veteran. He has been one of the driving forces behind “Heat Culture” and the franchise is thankful for everything he has done for them.
To go with that jersey retirement, they will also be dedicating a seating section in the arena to Haslem. This last regular season game is sure to be an emotional one and Heat fans will pack the arena to honor one of their all-time favorites.
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